Aromatic nebulizing diffuser

ABSTRACT

An aromatic nebulizing diffuser includes a base panel, a holder defining therein an oscillation chamber, a power switch, an electric fan, a fluid container, an ultrasonic oscillator, a fluid intake control device set in between the oscillation chamber and the fluid container, a dip tube in communication between the oscillation chamber and the fluid container and changeable between an open status and a close status to control the fluid intake control device in closing/opening the passage between the oscillation chamber and the fluid container, an outer housing, an air passage in air communication between the oscillation chamber and the cover for the passing of currents of air caused by the electric fan, an exhaust passage for guiding a generated fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber into the atmosphere.

This invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/510,400, filed on Jul. 28, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an aromatic nebulizing diffuser and more particularly, to such an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which employs oscillation techniques to distribute an aromatic fluid into the air.

2. Description of the Related Art

A known aromatic nebulizing diffuser or essential oil diffuser uses an ultrasonic oscillator to generate a high ultrasonic energy for causing atomization of an essential oil for application. Separation of electric charges in falling rain, caused by breaking up of the water droplets, the drops becoming positively charged and the air negatively charged. This separation of electric charges accompanying the aerodynamic breakup of water drops is known as spray electrification, the waterfall effect or Lenard effect.

However, conventional aromatic nebulizing diffusers can simply produce an upwardly flying mist of aromatic gas. They cannot simulate the natural visual effect of a flying mist caused by the impact of a waterfall.

Further, regular aromatic nebulizing diffusers simply have one single chamber for holding an aromatic fluid for oscillation by an ultrasonic oscillator to generate a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets. To oscillate a big volume of aromatic fluid or essential oil in a big chamber, a big capacity of ultrasonic oscillator should be used. Thus, regular aromatic nebulizing diffusers are less effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is main object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which automatically supplies an aromatic fluid to the oscillation chamber thereof for producing a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which produces lighting effects while generating a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which is practical for use to generate a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets efficiently.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, an aromatic nebulizing diffuser comprises a base; a power switch mounted on the base panel; an electric fan mounted on the base panel and electrically connected to and controllable by the power switch; a holder comprising a transverse partition board, the transverse partition board dividing the holder into an upper part and a lower part, a center opening cut through the transverse partition board, the upper part defining therein an oscillation chamber, the lower part defining a cover, and an air passage set in air communication between the space inside the cover and the oscillation chamber to provide a path for delivering air currents caused by the electric fan; a fluid container mounted in the holder, comprising a container body, a container base fastened to a bottom side of the container body and defining with the container body a fluid storage chamber and an exhaust passage in air communication between the oscillation chamber and the atmosphere for exhaust of a mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber; an ultrasonic oscillator mounted in the opening of the holder and electrically connected to the power switch; a fluid intake control device mounted in a bottom side of the fluid container and selectively set between an open status and a close status to control delivery of a fluid from the fluid storage chamber to the oscillation chamber; a dip tube set in the fluid container and the oscillation chamber to communicate the fluid storage chamber and the oscillation chamber; and an outer housing surrounding the fluid container and abutted against the base panel, the outer housing comprising an opening in air communication between the exhaust passage and the atmosphere. This design enables the storage aromatic fluid to be continuously supplied from the fluid storage chamber to the oscillation chamber. Therefore, the invention eliminates the drawback of the prior art design that cannot refill an aromatic fluid automatically.

Further, the outer housing can be transparent or light transmissive, having an opening in communication between the exhaust passage and the atmosphere.

Further, the ultrasonic oscillator comprises at least one light emitting device arranged on the top side thereof

Further, the outer housing, the fluid container and the holder are preferably prepared by transparent or translucent materials, such as, light transmissive ceramics, transparent or translucent plastics, glass, acrylic, frosted glass or any other suitable materials having pores.

Thus, when a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets is forced out of the exhaust passage of the fluid container and the outer housing into the atmosphere during operation of the electric fan, the fine mist of aromatic fluid is lightened by the light emitted by the light-emitting device, showing colorful lighting effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an aromatic nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of an upper part of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view of a lower part of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in an enlarged scale of the holder shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention, illustrating a status of use of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4, an aromatic nebulizing diffuser 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising:

a base panel 10;

a power switch 20 mounted at the base panel 10;

an electric fan 40 mounted at the base panel 10 and electrically connected to the power switch 20;

a holder 30, which comprises a transverse partition board 31 that has a center opening 36 and divides the holder 30 into an upper part that defines an oscillation chamber 34 and a lower part that defines a cover 32, and an air passage 37 formed of an open-ended duct and set in air communication between the space inside the cover 32 and the oscillation chamber 34 to provide a path for delivering air currents caused by the electric fan 40;

a fluid container 50, which, can be made of a transparent or translucent material, is mounted in the holder 30, comprising a container body 51, a container base 52 located on the bottom side of the container body 51 and defining with the container body 51 a fluid storage chamber 53 and an exhaust passage 57 in air communication between the oscillation chamber 34 and the atmosphere for exhaust of a mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber 34;

an ultrasonic oscillator 60 mounted in the center opening 36 of the holder 30 and electrically connected to the power switch 20 for oscillating an aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber 34 to produce a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets;

a fluid intake control device 70 mounted in the bottom side of the fluid container 50 and selectively set between an open status and a close status to control delivery of a fluid from the fluid storage chamber 53 to the oscillation chamber 34;

a dip tube 80 set in the fluid container 50 and the oscillation chamber 34 to communicate the fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34; and

an outer housing 90 surrounding the fluid container 50 and abutted against the base panel 10 and having an opening 91 in air communication between the exhaust passage 57 and the atmosphere.

Further, the aforesaid outer housing 90, fluid container 50 and base panel 10 are preferably made of a transparent or translucent material.

Referring to FIG. 5, subject to the control of the fluid intake control device 70, an aromatic fluid is repeatedly supplied from the fluid container 50 to the oscillation chamber 34 where the ultrasonic oscillator 60 oscillates the aromatic fluid to produce a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets that is then carried out of the exhaust passage 57 into the atmosphere by currents of air that are caused by the electric fan 40 to flow through the air passage 37 into the oscillation chamber 34 toward the exhaust passage 57.

Further, the aforesaid base panel 10 comprises a bottom plate 11 defining an opening 111, and a bearing plate 13 mounted on the bottom plate 11 to hold the electric fan 40 corresponding to the opening 111 for inducing airflow into the inside of the holder 30.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 2B and 4 again, the holder 30 further has an exhaust fitting 58 mounted therein. The exhaust fitting 58 is capped on the top end of the air passage 37. The exhaust fitting 58 has an adjustable exhaust port 581 for adjusting air output and diffusion direction (see FIGS. 2B and 5).

The exhaust passage 57 of the fluid container 50 is isolated from the fluid storage chamber 53. The container base 52 of the fluid container 50 is divided into an upper part and a lower part, comprising an upwardly extending connection tube 521 and a through hole 523 at the upper part and a filling port 522 at the lower part for the filling of water or an aromatic fluid. Further, the upwardly extending connection tube 521 is connected to the exhaust passage 57 of the fluid container 50.

Referring to FIGS.4 and 5, the ultrasonic oscillator 60 is a high frequency oscillator that oscillates hundred thousands to millions times per second. The ultrasonic oscillator 60 is mounted on the transverse partition board 31 of the holder 30 above the center opening 36 and electrically connected to the power switch 20, having a plurality of light-emitting devices 62 provided at the top side thereof. The light-emitting devices 62 and the oscillator 60 are electrically connected to the power switch 20. Further, the light-emitting devices 62 are disposed in the oscillation chamber 34 and operable to emit light rays that penetrate through the fine mist or aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber 34, container body 51 and outer housing 90. Further, a water seal ring 63 is packed in between the periphery of the ultrasonic oscillator 60 and the periphery of the center opening 36 of the transverse partition board of the holder 30, preventing leakage of water from the oscillation chamber 34.

Referring to FIGS. 2B and 4, the fluid intake control device 70 comprises a first casing 71, a second casing 72, a spring member 73 and a ball 74. The first casing 71 is connected to the filling port 522 of the container base 52 of the fluid container 50 by a screw joint. The second casing 72 is fastened to the bottom side of the first casing 71 in such a manner that the first casing 71 and the second casing 72 define a passage in fluid communication between the oscillation chamber 34 and the fluid storage chamber 53. Further, the first casing 71 has an inside annular flange 711 disposed in the passage in proximity to the fluid storage chamber 53. The second casing 72 has a ball hole 721 disposed in the passage in proximity to the oscillation chamber 34. The spring member 73 is mounted in the passage inside the first casing 71 and the second casing 72, and stopped with its one end against the bottom side of the inside annular flange 711. The ball 74 according to the present preferred embodiment is a steel ball held down on the ball hole 721 by the spring member 73 to stop the passage, preventing leakage of a fluid out of the fluid storage chamber 53 through the filling port 522.

The holder 30 further comprises a protruding portion 341 upwardly extended from the transverse partition board 31 and suspending in the oscillation chamber 34 for inserting into the ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the fluid intake control device 70 to move the ball 74 upwardly away from the ball hole 721 and to further open the passage between the fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34 for enabling a fluid to flow from the fluid storage chamber 53 into the oscillation chamber 34. On the contrary, when moved the protruding portion 341 away from the ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the fluid intake control device 70, the spring member 73 immediately forces the ball 74 to stop the ball hole 721, prohibiting flowing of the storage fluid out of the fluid storage chamber 53. Further, the fluid container 50 is separately detachable, allowing insertion of a bottleneck of a liquid bottle or aromatic fluid bottle (not shown) into the ball hole 721 to refill a liquid or aromatic fluid.

The dip tube 80 has a top open end 801 and a bottom open end 802. Further, the dip tube 80 is inserted into the through hole 523 of the container base 52 of the fluid container 5 and suspending in the fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34 and secured in place by a gasket ring 81 to keep the top open end 801 above the elevation of the fluid level in the fluid storage chamber 53 and the bottom open end 802 in contact with the fluid level in the oscillation chamber 34. In coordination with the connection of the fluid intake control device 70 to the filling port 522 of the container base 52 of the fluid container 50, the protruding portion 341 of the holder 30 is inserted into the ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the fluid intake control device 70 to move the ball 74 upwardly away from the ball hole 721 and to further open the passage between the fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34. At this time, the inside pressure of the fluid storage chamber 53 and the inside pressure of the oscillation chamber 34 are in balance, so that the storage aromatic fluid flows, subject to a hydraulic head difference, in proper order from the fluid storage chamber 53 through the filling port 522 of the container base 52 of the fluid container 50 and the fluid intake control device 70 into the oscillation chamber 34. When the fluid level in the oscillation chamber 34 reaches a predetermined elevation to block the bottom open end 802 of the dip tube 80, filling of the aromatic fluid into the oscillation chamber 34 is stopped. On the contrary, when the fluid level is lowered to an elevation without blocking the bottom open end 802 of the dip tube 80, the dip tube 80 is returned to the status in air communication between the fluid storage chamber 53 and the inside pressure of the oscillation chamber 34 for enabling the aromatic fluid to flow from the fluid storage chamber 53 and the inside pressure of the oscillation chamber 34 again subject to the effect of a hydraulic head difference. This action is repeated again and again to keep supplying the aromatic fluid. Therefore, the invention eliminates the drawback of the prior art design that cannot refill an aromatic fluid automatically.

The invention uses the fluid container 50 to store an aromatic fluid and the oscillation chamber 34 to hold a relatively smaller volume of the aromatic fluid for producing a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets. Because the volume of the oscillation chamber 34 is much smaller than the volume of the fluid container 50, oscillation of the ultrasonic oscillator 60 in the oscillation chamber 34 can cause a fine mist of aromatic fluid more quickly than the formation of a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets by means of oscillating a same capacity of ultrasonic oscillator in the fluid container 50. When compared to the prior art design that uses a single large storage chamber for generating a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets, the invention shows a better performance. Further, the volume of the oscillation chamber 34 must be smaller than that of the fluid storage chamber 53 of the fluid container 50.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 4 and 5 again, the exhaust passage 57 of the fluid container 50 has a top exhaust hole 571 covered by a vent cap 59. The vent cap 59 comprises at least one pair of vent holes 591. Each vent hole 591 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the exhaust passage 57. During operation of the electric fan 40, currents of air caused by the electric fan 40 flows through the air passage 37 into the oscillation chamber 34 and the exhaust passage 57 toward the atmosphere via the vent holes 591.

Further, a wireless receiver 131 is mounted at the bearing plate 13 of the base panel 10 and electrically connected to the power switch 20, which, in this embodiment, is an infrared receiver. The wireless receiver 131 is equipped with a LED indicator for operation status indication, and adapted for receiving an external remote control signal to switch on/off the power switch 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 again, at first, the user pours the prepared aromatic fluid (for example, a mixture of an essential oil and water) into the fluid storage chamber 53 of the fluid container 50. At this time, the protruding portion 341 of the holder 30 is inserted into the ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the fluid intake control device 70 to move the ball 74 upwardly away from the ball hole 721 and to further open the passage between the fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34. Thus, the aromatic fluid flows from the fluid storage chamber 53 into the oscillation chamber 34, and the user can control the ultrasonic oscillator 60 to oscillate and to cause a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets to be produced in the oscillation chamber 34. At the same time, the electric fan 40 is started up to suck in currents of air from the atmosphere through the bottom plate 11, the air passage 37 and the exhaust port 581 into the oscillation chamber 34, enabling the currents of air to carry the produced fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber 34 through the exhaust passage 57, the narrow elongated top opening 54 of the fluid container 50 and the narrow rectangular opening 91 of the outer housing 90 to the atmosphere.

At this time, subject to the significant diameter difference between the vent holes 591 of the vent cap 59 and the exhaust passage 57 of the fluid container 50, multiple flows of fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets are forced out of the exhaust passage 57 and narrow elongated top opening 54 of the fluid container 50 and the narrow rectangular opening 91 of the outer housing 90 into the atmosphere and lightened by the light emitted by the light-emitting devices 62, showing colorful lighting effects.

Further, the light-emitting devices 62 of the ultrasonic oscillator 60 in this embodiment are light-emitting diodes of different colors for emitting color light beams toward the vent holes 591 of the vent cap 59. Further, the outer housing 90, the fluid container 50 and the holder 30 are transparent or translucent that admits light. Thus, the user can see the variation of the flowing of multiple flows of fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets under the lightening of the light emitted by the light-emitting devices 62.

A prototype of aromatic nebulizing diffuser has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1-5. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser functions smoothly to provide all of the features disclosed earlier.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. An aromatic nebulizing diffuser, comprising: a base panel; a power switch mounted on said base panel; an electric fan mounted on said base panel and electrically connected to and controllable by said power switch; a holder comprising a transverse partition board, said transverse partition board dividing said holder into an upper part and a lower part, a center opening cut through said transverse partition board, said upper part defining therein an oscillation chamber, said lower part defining a cover, and an air passage set in air communication between the space inside said cover and said oscillation chamber to provide a path for delivering air currents caused by said electric fan; a fluid container mounted in said holder, said fluid container comprising a container body, a container base fastened to a bottom side of said container body and defining with said container body a fluid storage chamber and an exhaust passage in air communication between said oscillation chamber and the atmosphere for exhaust of a mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of said oscillation chamber; an ultrasonic oscillator mounted in the opening of said holder and electrically connected to said power switch; a fluid intake control device mounted in a bottom side of said fluid container and selectively set between an open status and a close status to control delivery of a fluid from said fluid storage chamber to said oscillation chamber; and a dip tube set in said fluid container and said oscillation chamber to communicate said fluid storage chamber and said oscillation chamber.
 2. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an outer housing surrounding said fluid container and abutted against said base panel, said outer housing comprising an opening in air communication between said exhaust passage and the atmosphere.
 3. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder further comprises an exhaust fitting capped on a top end of said air passage, said exhaust fitting comprising an adjustable exhaust port for adjusting air output direction.
 4. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container base of said fluid container comprises an upper part and a lower part, an upwardly extending connection tube defined in said upper part, and a filling port defined in said lower part for the filling of water or an aromatic fluid.
 5. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer housing, said holder and said fluid container are selected from a material group of transparent and translucent materials that admit light.
 6. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ultrasonic oscillator comprises at least one light emitting device arranged on a top side thereof.
 7. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid intake control device comprises a first casing, a second casing, a spring member and a ball, said first casing being connected to the filling port of said container base of said fluid container, said second casing being fastened to a bottom side of said first casing, said first casing having an inside annular flange, said second casing having a ball hole disposed in communication with said oscillation chamber, said spring member being mounted in said first casing and said second casing and stopped at a bottom side of said inside annular flange to hold down said ball on said ball hole.
 8. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 7, wherein said holder further comprises a protruding portion upwardly extended from said transverse partition board and suspending in said oscillation chamber for insertion into said ball hole of said second casing of said fluid intake control device to move said ball upwardly away from said ball hole against said spring member and to further open the passage between said fluid storage chamber and said oscillation chamber.
 9. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oscillation chamber has a volume smaller than said fluid storage chamber.
 10. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a gasket ring securing said dip tube to said container base of said fluid container, and a water seal ring packed in between the periphery of said ultrasonic oscillator and the periphery of the center opening of said transverse partition board of said holder.
 11. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid container further comprises a vent cap capped on a top exhaust hole of said exhaust passage, said vent cap comprising a plurality of vent holes.
 12. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said vent hole has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said exhaust passage.
 13. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver mounted in said base panel and electrically connected to said power switch and controllable by an external wireless control signal to switch on/off said power switch. 